With long, gangly legs and skinny arms, Salgado sometimes looks like a colt when he runs. He needs to add weight and muscle.

"Being so young he hasn't quite grown into his body," said Soehn. "There are days when he's a bit awkward.

"That will come with footwork and stuff we are doing outside of the game."

It's also easy to forget Salgado is still a teenager. He can't even legally join his teammates for a drink after games.

"I don't know what to talk to them about and we don't have much in common," he said about the older players. "It's difficult to go out with them and do what ever."

Salgado has dual American and Mexican citizenship. His mother is American and his father Mexican. Living in Canada has been a new experience.

"I get lonely a lot," he said.

Salgado has travelled a route similar to many Canadian hockey players.

He was 15 years old when he left home to join Mexican giants Club Deportivo Guadalajara, better known as Chivas or Goats. As a member of the reserves, he scored seven goals in 10 appearances.

Salgado trained and travelled with the Mexican U-20 side in March and April of 2010, but decided play for the United States U-20 national team at the 2010 Milk Cup international youth tournament in Northern Ireland.

He also trained with English Premier League side Everton FC.

The Whitecaps raised some eyebrows when they took Salgado with their first pick in the SuperDraft. The common consensus was Darlington Nagbe, a 20-year-old forward from the University of Akron, was the best player available.

But the Whitecaps like Salgado's potential.

Soehn said Salgado has the fundamentals of a great player.

"For some guys the game comes easy and I think it comes easy for him," he said. "Holding the ball, the ability to create space for himself and nose for the goal, those are the qualities he does well.

"Now he has to translate that into a system … and to be part of a team."

The Whitecaps have struggled in their inaugural MLS season. Their 4-13-10 record is the worst in the league.

Having a young talent like Salgado is one reason the Whitecaps believe they can be better next season.

"I want to make a difference," said Salgado. "That's what I am aiming for.

"Hopefully next year I'm not too young for anybody here and I can play. That's all I am looking for."